Nisa, Turkmenistan
Entrance to Nisa
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 Shown within Turkmenistan
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| Alternate name | Parthaunisa Mithradatkirt |
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| Location | Ashgabat City, Turkmenistan |
| Coordinates | 37°58′0″N 58°11′42″E / 37.96667°N 58.19500°ECoordinates: 37°58′0″N 58°11′42″E / 37.96667°N 58.19500°E |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Periods | Parthian Empire |
| Cultures | Parthian |
| Associated with | Arsaces I, Mithridates I |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | Ruined |
| Official name | Parthian Fortresses of Nisa |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iii |
| Designated | 2007 (31st session) |
| Reference no. | 1242 |
| State Party | Turkmenistan |
| Region | Asia and Australasia |
Nisa (also Parthaunisa) was an ancient city, located near modern-day Bagir village, 18 km southwest of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Nisa is described by some as the first seat of central government of the Parthians. It is traditionally assumed to be founded by Arsaces I (reigned c. 250 BC–211 BC), and was reputedly the royal necropolis of the Parthian kings, although it has not been established that the fortress at Nisa was either a royal residence or a mausoleum.
Excavations at Nisa have revealed substantial buildings, mausoleums and shrines, many inscribed documents, and a looted treasury. Many Hellenistic art works have been uncovered, as well as a large number of ivory rhytons, the outer rims (coins) decorated with Iranian subjects or classical mythological scenes.
Nisa was later renamed Mithradatkirt ("fortress of Mithradates") by Mithridates I of Parthia (reigned c. 171 BC–138 BC).
Nisa was totally destroyed by an earthquake, which occurred during the first decade BC.
The fortress at Nisa was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2007.(See List of World Heritage Sites in Turkmenistan)
Sorted by year then author:
1982
MASSON M.E., PUGACHENKOVA G.A., The Parthians rhytons of Nisa, Monografie di Mesopotamia (Introduction by A. Invernizzi), Firenze, Le Lettere.
1990
INVERNIZZI A., KOSHELENKO G.A., «Soviet-Italian Excavations in Old Nisa (Season 1990) », Mesopotamia, XXV, pp. 47–50.
1996
GABUTTI A., «The Italian Excavation in Old Nisa: the Northern Corner of the Round Hall Complex», Mesopotamia XXXI, pp. 161–177
INVERNIZZI A., «Archaeological research in Old Nisa 1990-1994», in La Persia e l’Asia Centrale da Alessandro al X secolo, Atti dei Convegni Lincei, 127, Roma, pp. 237–249.
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